GAME ONE BOX SCORE          GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Newberry, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs swept a doubleheader over the Wolves of Newberry College Wednesday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference softball action. The Bulldogs won the first game 4-2 in nine innings, while taking game two 6-4. The first victory of the day was win number 500 for head coach Michelle Caddigan. The ‘Dogs have won six straight conference games, improving to 29-12 overall and 10-6 in the SAC.

Game #1
Wingate 4, Newberry 2 (nine innings)

Freshman outfielder Jordyn Setzer (Taylorsville, N.C.) delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth to lead the Bulldogs past Newberry in the first game. Setzer was two-for-three with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Wingate offense.

Wingate sophomore outfielder Kasey Pendley (Marion, N.C.) went three-for-four with an RBI, while freshman outfielder Hayley Whitley (Monroe, N.C.) added two hits and an RBI. Junior infielder Maureen Sandidge (Venice, Fla.) had a game-high three hits for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs got on the board first in the second, getting back-to-back RBI singles from Whitley and Pendley to take a 2-0 lead. The Wolves plated two runs in the fourth to tie the opener. Junior utility player Felicia Taylor (Venice, Fla.) got things started with a solo homer, while an RBI single from freshman infielder Jennifer Yancey (Dunwoody, Ga.) tied it at two.

The Bulldogs had at least two runners on base in each of the next four innings, but were unable to get a run across. Wingate left the bases loaded in the fifth and eighth. The ‘Dogs left 16 on base in game one.

Senior pinch-runner Jessica McCraw (Waxhaw, N.C.) was placed on second to start the ninth inning, via the International Tie-Breaker Rule. She moved to third on a bunt single from Sandidge. Setzer followed with an RBI single to center to make it 3-2. A sacrifice fly from sophomore Stephanie Simmons (Hickory, N.C.) pushed the lead to two.

Senior-right-hander Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) struck out the final three batters of the game in the bottom of the ninth, improving to 19-5 overall on the year. The reigning national Pitcher of the Week struck out a season-high 12 on the day, allowing two runs on eight hits without walking a batter in nine innings of work and throwing 151 pitches.

Game #2
Wingate 6, Newberry 4

Junior catcher Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.) was two-for-four with a double and three RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Senior infielder Emily Chavis (Berkeley Lake, Ga.) went two-for-three with a homer and two RBI, while Sandidge added a pair of hits and an RBI for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs wasted no time getting on the board in game two, scoring twice in the first inning. A hit batsman, error and walk loaded the bases with no outs. Barrineau drove in the first run with an RBI single, while Sandidge followed with an RBI single to make the score 2-0.

Wingate added two more runs in the second, getting a two-run homer from Chavis to make the margin 4-0. Chavis leads the team with eight homers on the year. Barrineau ripped a two-run double to right center in the fourth to give the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead.

Newberry made things interesting in the sixth, scoring four runs to cut the Wingate lead to two. Taylor led things off with a homer. Shelby Holland, Angela Cataldo and Jessie Teague each added RBI singles to cut the deficit to 6-4. Smith entered in relief, striking out Taylor with the bases loaded to get out of the inning.

Senior right-hander Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) got the win, improving to 4-3 overall on the year. She allowed four runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings of work, striking out two without walking a batter. Smith notched her second save of the year, striking out two in 1 2/3 innings of work without allowing a run. Taylor took the loss, falling to 8-16 overall. She allowed six runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings of work.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, hosting Carson-Newman College at 1 p.m. in the final conference doubleheader of the regular season. Wingate will celebrate Senior Day in pre-game festivities (approximately 12:45 p.m.).

NOTES: A James Madison University graduate, Caddigan took over as Wingate University head softball coach in 1997. With the two victories Wednesday at Newberry, she has an overall record of 501-240-3. She is 146-68 in SAC games during her career.

Caddigan led the Bulldog team to the regular season SAC title in 1999 and 2009, while guiding Wingate to the 2006 Food Lion SAC tournament title. Wingate has finished in the top three in the conference in 13 of Caddigan’s 14 years at the helm.

(Wingate University assistant sports information director Hugh Patton wrote this article. Patton is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)